Technology and technique to prevent, diminish or interfere with the formation of hurricanes and tornadoes on earth from one or more platforms in space

ABSTRACT

Systems, apparatuses, and methods provide for technology that locates one or more masses of a thunderstorm system, as the thunderstorm system starts to organize and before the thunderstorm system spawns a tornado, and controls a transmission of electromagnetic radiation from the space platform to the one or more masses, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation tracks the one or more masses as the thunderstorm system is starting to organize and rotate, and wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation prevents the thunderstorm system from rotating and spawning the tornado.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of and claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/416,463filed on May 20, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,820 filed on Aug. 23, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to weather pattern technology. Moreparticularly, embodiments relate to technology and techniques toprevent, diminish or interfere with the formation of hurricanes on Earthfrom one or more platforms in space.

BACKGROUND

A hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which formsover tropical or subtropical waters. Hurricanes have historically causedsignificant damage, injury and loss of life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the embodiments will become apparent to oneskilled in the art by reading the following specification and appendedclaims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example of a plurality of spaceplatforms according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a simplified illustration of a rotational weather patternaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a more complex illustration of a rotational weather patternaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2C is a plan view of an example of segments being identified in arotational weather pattern according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of a method of operating a spaceplatform according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a logic architectureaccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example of a semiconductor apparatusaccording to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In certain latitudes (e.g., tropical and subtropical waters), lowpressure areas attract winds, winds curve counterclockwise due to theCoriolis effect, and winds cause an above normal amount of ocean waterto rise/evaporate. When conditions are “ideal” (e.g., relative humidityis high, upper winds are very cold, etc.), rising and evaporated water(with high relative humidity) hits very cold air and starts to rapidlycondense and fall. When all of the above conditions coincide toconstitute ideal conditions (including appropriate winds, correctrelative humidity, ideal upper air temperatures, etc.) a tropicaldepression is created. Additionally, the tropical depression beginningto intensify is a precursor to a tropical storm and then a hurricane(alternatively called a cyclone or typhoon).

The technology and technique described herein interrupts thisintensifying rotating cycle by focusing energy (e.g., microwave energy,millimeter wave energy, solar energy, laser energy or other type ofenergy) on one or more segments of the slowly rotating tropicaldepression. The transmitted energy interrupts and destabilizes thosesegments, and ultimately disrupts the entire tropical depression.Focusing microwave energy on one or more segments accomplishes thisinterruption/destabilization via one or more (and possibly all) of thefollowing:

(a) heating and warming water vapor, thus interfering with andpreventing the required ideal level of relative humidity from beingachieved;

(b) heating and warming the colder air, thus interfering with andpreventing the required ideal level of condensation;

(c) heating, warming, and expanding the colder air, thus interferingwith its rotation and causing it to deviate from its increasingly cyclicpath;

(d) causing a major instability in a roughly uniform spinning disk/massby causing instabilities in one or more segments, causing the spinningdisk/mass to lose its ability to sustain and reinforce a cycle ofincreasing intensity and rotation; and

(e) generally interfering with the ideal conditions required to sustainand increase a tropical depression. Note that once the tropicaldepression is formed, one can assume that the existing conditions areclose to ideal. Accordingly, interfering with the existing conditionswill significantly interfere with the tropical depression's ability tosustain itself.

There are many instances in which a newly forming tropical depressioncannot sustain ideal conditions, and eventually breaks up. The proposedtechnique is mainly applicable to those instances in which a tropicaldepression experiences sustained ideal conditions, begins to intensify,and appears to be likely to become to a tropical storm and then ahurricane. The technology interferes with the tropical depression, andsuccessfully keeps it from intensifying to become a tropical storm or ahurricane. The energy required to successfully interfere with anddestabilize a tropical depression is significantly less than the energythat would be required to successfully interfere with a tropical stormor a hurricane.

Turning now to FIG. 1 , a first space platform 10 is shown in which oneor more solar panel arrays 12 collect solar energy. The collected solarenergy may be converted by a subsystem 14 (e.g., including a logicarchitecture, bus, etc.) into electromagnetic radiation that one or moretransmitters 16 transmit to one or more segments of a rotational weatherpattern (not shown) on Earth 18 or other planetary body in the solarsystem. In the illustrated example, the first space platform 10coordinates transmission of the electromagnetic radiation with a second(e.g., additional) space platform 20. Thus, the second space platform 20may also include one or more solar panel arrays 22 that collect solarenergy, a subsystem 24 to convert the collected solar energy intoelectromagnetic radiation, and one or more transmitters 26 that transmitthe electromagnetic radiation to one or more segments of the rotationalweather pattern. The use of multiple platforms 10, 20 may reduce theamount of energy that needs to be collected and transmitted on eachplatform 10, 20. In this regard, the typical output from each platform10, 20 might be on the order of thousands of megawatts (for reference,the 2012 net generation capability of Three Mile Island nuclear powerplant was 829 MW). Moreover, the type of transmitted electromagneticradiation (e.g., millimeter wave) may impact the efficiency of theeffect/impact on water vapor and/or relative humidity. The platforms 10,20 may also coordinate with one or more land-based systems (e.g.,FAA—Federal Aviation Administration systems, and ICAO—InternationalCivil Aviation Organization/ICAO systems) on Earth 18 to divert aircraftaround the transmitted electromagnetic energy (e.g., via notices toairmen/NOTARs). The platforms 10, 20 may also coordinate with Air ForceJSpOC (Joint Space Operations Center), which also coordinates withcommercial spacecraft operators and other government operators includingvia Space-Track.org. Accordingly, orbiting spacecraft may either plan toavoid the energized area while in orbit (although the energized beamwould be quite narrow vs. the wide vastness of orbital space), or thebeam could be paused briefly if necessary to let a spacecraft passthrough the projected beam area. The illustrated platforms 10, 20therefore reduce the likelihood of damage, injury and/or loss of lifeassociated with hurricanes.

FIG. 2A is a simplified illustration of a rotational weather pattern 30and FIG. 2B is a more complex illustration of a rotational weatherpattern 31. FIG. 2C shows a plan view of a rotational weather pattern inwhich a first segment 32 and a second segment 34 are selected and/oridentified. In the illustrated example, the transmitted electromagneticradiation is focused on and tracks the segments 32, 34 in a generallycircular motion 33 around the rotational weather pattern. In oneexample, wind speed data is used to determine the revolutions per minute(RPM) of the rotational weather pattern, wherein the RPM is in turn usedto track the segments 32, 34 as they move around the rotational weatherpattern. The transmitted electromagnetic radiation generally increasesthe temperature and/or decreases the relative humidity of the segments32, 34. The transmitted electromagnetic energy would generally beapplied across the top layer of the vertical storm mass, with additionaldeeper penetration as the top layer begins to dissipate. Accordingly,the transmitted electromagnetic energy interrupts the cycle of verticalupward and downward movement of air, water, and water vapor, anddestabilizes the developing rotational motion of the tropicaldepression, causing it to break up and dissipate. Thus, the rotationalweather pattern may be prevented from ultimately developing into ahurricane.

As will be discussed in greater detail, when not focusing thetransmitted electromagnetic energy on a tropical depression, the energymay alternatively be used to create Earth-based solar energy. Such anapproach may help alleviate costs of operating the system solely forhurricane prevention. Periods when the technology is not being used forhurricane prevention include those periods between formation of tropicaldepressions, and those months (e.g., December through May in theNorthern Hemisphere) outside of hurricane season. Also, during thoseintermission periods between tropical depressions and also from Decemberthrough May in the Northern Hemisphere, the energy may alternatively beused (in a manner similar to disrupting tropical depressions) to disruptlarge thunderstorm masses over the U.S. when they begin to rotate andcreate conditions likely to spawn tornados, thus interrupting therotational cycle and diminishing the probability of spawning tornados.

FIG. 3 shows a method 36 of operating a space platform. The method 36may generally be implemented in a space platform such as, for example,the first space platform 10 (FIG. 1 ) and/or the second space platform20 (FIG. 1 ), already discussed. More particularly, the method 36 may beimplemented in one or more modules as a set of logic instructions storedin a machine- or computer-readable storage medium such as RAM, ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), firmware, flash memory, etc., in configurablelogic such as, for example, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices(CPLDs), in fixed-functionality hardware logic using circuit technologysuch as, for example, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or transistor-transistorlogic (TTL) technology, or any combination thereof.

For example, computer program code to carry out operations shown in themethod 36 may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJAVA, SMALLTALK, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. Additionally, logic instructions might include assemblerinstructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machineinstructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, pCode,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, stateinformation that personalizes electronic circuitry and/or otherstructural components that are native to hardware (e.g., host processor,central processing unit/CPU, microcontroller, etc.).

Illustrated processing block 38 provides for collecting solar energy,wherein the collected solar energy is converted into electromagneticradiation (e.g., microwave energy, millimeter wave energy, solar energy,laser energy and/or other type of energy) at block 40. A determinationmay be made at block 42 as to whether a tropical depression or otherrotational weather pattern is forming. Block 42 may include accessingsatellite tracking data via a weather service, announcements, and soforth. In one example, the tropical depression becomes of interest whenit starts to organize into a somewhat circular, slowly rotating mass. Ifit is determined at block 42 that a tropical depression is forming,illustrated block 44 locates and/or selects one or more segments of therotational weather pattern. The segment(s) may be similar to thesegments 32, 34 (FIGS. 2A and 2B), already discussed.

Transmission of the electromagnetic radiation from the space platform tothe one or more segments is controlled at block 46, wherein thetransmitted electromagnetic radiation tracks the one or more segments ina generally circular motion around the tropical depression (e.g.,rotational weather pattern). In an embodiment, block 46 includesconducting beam steering. In one example, a determination is made atblock 48 as to whether the tropical depression has been disrupted. Ifnot, the illustrated method 36 returns to block 46. Once the tropicaldepression is disrupted, the electromagnetic radiation may betransmitted at block 50 to one or more Earth-based solar panel arraysand the illustrated method 36 returns to block 38. If it is determinedat block 42 that a depression is not forming, blocks 44, 46 and 48 maybe bypassed. The illustrated method 36 therefore reduces the likelihoodof damage, injury and/or loss of life associated with hurricanes.

FIG. 4 shows a logic architecture 52 that may be include in a spaceplatform subsystem such as, for example, the subsystem 14 (FIG. 1 )and/or the subsystem 24 (FIG. 1 ), already discussed. Moreover, thelogic architecture 52, which may include logic instructions,configurable logic, fixed-functionality hardware logic, etc., or anycombination thereof, may implement one or more aspects of the method 36(FIG. 3 ), already discussed. A solar energy collector and converter 54may be capable of converting radiant energy received from the sun toelectrical energy. In one example, the solar energy collector andconverter 54 includes photovoltaic, thermoelectric and/or thermionicdevices. If photovoltaic devices are used, a plurality of solarphotovoltaic conversion devices may be affixed to the surface of a discdirected toward the sun. A number of such photovoltaic conversiondevices include, but are not limited to, cadmium sulfide cells, N/Psilicon cells, webbed dendrite silicon or silicon ribbon single crystalsin appropriate form, silicon solar cells or layers of monolithic,integrally connected film cells, gallium arsenide solar cells, andorganic film solar cells.

In one example, the photovoltaic collection device is in the form oflarge thin areas, of low cost and good stability and high efficiency.Thus, although single PN-junction single transition silicon solar cellshaving theoretical efficiencies of twenty to twenty-five percent may beused, a multicellular device may be constructed consisting of two ormore photovoltaic layers in a sandwich configuration, which may have anefficiency up to about forty percent. The photovoltaic conversion cellsmay also be formed of organic compounds that have semiconductorcharacteristics.

In a similar manner, thermoelectric converters such as bimetallicjunctions that undergo the Seebeck effect to convert heat intoelectrical energy and thermionic devices such as high vacuum and plasmadiodes may be used in the collector and converter 54 in place of or inconjunction with photovoltaic converters.

In one example, the cells are protected with conductive ultravioletabsorbing layers to protect the photoconductive film and to convert theultraviolet radiation to usable near-ultraviolet or visible light.Optical concentrators may also be incorporated into the solar energycollector and converter 54 to focus the solar radiation on the cells.

Inasmuch as the solar energy collector and converter 54 is continuallyoriented to face the sun, means may be provided to guide the solarenergy collector and converter 54 and to control its orientation.Guidance means include, but are not limited to, sun sensors, startrackers, horizon seekers, and so forth. Control and actual orientationof the solar energy collector and converter 54 may be achieved by threeorthogonally-oriented electrically powered reaction wheels (plus oneskewed reaction wheel as a back-up) so as to achieve orientation viarenewable energy means without need to use up expendables, and possiblyaugmented by a gravity gradient boom, with backup as may be needed fromgas fired rockets or ion reaction engines run on a gas such as nitrogenapplied from a cryogenic liquid supply.

In one example, each of the photovoltaic cells is then connected by anelectric power transmission device 56 (e.g., superconducting cables) toa microwave generator 58. The solar energy collector and converter 54may be divided into interconnected sectors in order to provide largeamounts of power to efficient generators for producing large amounts ofmicrowave energy.

The transmission line of the transmission device 56 may be articulatedto provide relative movement between the solar energy collector andconverter 54 and the microwave energy generator 58. This requirement mayarise because the solar energy collector and converter 54 is continuallyoriented to face the sun while the microwave energy generator 58 andassociated microwave beamformer 60 remain accurately pointed at therotational weather pattern on the earth. Articulated connections mayinclude rotary joints, slip ring assemblies, etc.

The purpose of the microwave energy generator 58 may be to convert theDC (direct current) electric power developed in the solar energycollector and converter 54 to electrical energy at microwave ormillimeter frequencies so that it may be formed into a suitably shapedelectromagnetic beam for transmission to Earth. In one example, thewavelength of the microwave electromagnetic radiation formed fortransmission to Earth is between about 3 and 30 cm.

In one example, the microwave energy generator 58 operates at high powerlevels on continuous-wave oscillations at a single frequency. Many suchgenerators include, but not limited to, klystrons, traveling-wave tubes,solid state traveling-wave tubes, backward-wave oscillators andamplifiers, twystrons, and crossed-field devices, which include resonanttypes such as magnetrons, nonresonant backward and forward wave typessuch as amplitrons, carcinatrons and dematrons.

To accommodate the power desired, multiple instances of the microwavegenerator 58 may operate in phase synchronization with each other. Thismay be accomplished by the use of an appropriately chosen, controlledphase shifting network employing known phase shifters such as thoseincorporating ferrites, switched diodes, variable-length line designtechniques, and the like. A properly programmed computer may be used inconjunction with the phase shifting mechanism.

An antenna network may form a part of the microwave beamformer 60 and abeam transmitter 62. In one example, the antenna network includesoscillators, amplifiers, phase shifters, etc. The microwave antennanetwork may be capable of accurately directing (e.g., via beam steering)the microwave beams of electromagnetic energy to the tropical depressionon the earth. In one example, the radiation power pattern of themicrowave beam is formed into an appropriate configuration with respectto the main beam shape and width and to sidelobe energy distributions.These beam requirements may be met by generating the proper amplitudeand phase source distributions over the antenna aperture, and by the useof a rotation tracker 64. In one example, the rotation tracker 64 usesRPM data to determine where to aim the transmitted electromagneticradiation. In another example, the rotation tracker 64 receives windvelocity data and calculates/determines the RPM.

In one example, the determination/calculation of RPMs is straightforwardas follows: For approximate calculation purposes, assume that thetropical depression is circular. The wind speed in miles per hour (mph)is equivalent to one 360 degree rotation of a point on the circumferencein 1 hour. There are 60 minutes in one hour, so one revolution per houris 60 rpm (revolutions per minute). The circumference of a circle is2*Pi*r, or Pi*d. Thus, the rpm of the tropical depression is wind speedin mph divided by 60 times Pi times the diameter of the tropicaldepression, where Pi=3.14. As an example, if the wind speed is 25 mphand the diameter of the tropical depression is 20 miles, then rpm=26 rpm(for reference, the rpm of a 33⅓ vinyl record is 33⅓ rpm).

FIG. 5 shows a semiconductor apparatus 66. The illustrated apparatus 66includes one or more substrates 68 (e.g., silicon, sapphire, galliumarsenide) and logic 70 (e.g., transistor array and other integratedcircuit/IC components) coupled to the substrate(s) 68. The logic 70 maybe implemented at least partly in configurable logic orfixed-functionality hardware logic. In one example, the logic 70generally implements one or more aspects of the method 36 (FIG. 3 ),already discussed. Accordingly, the logic 70 may locate one or moresegments of a rotational weather pattern and transmit electromagneticradiation from a space platform to the one or more segments, wherein thetransmitted electromagnetic radiation tracks the one or more segments ina generally circular motion around the rotational weather pattern. Inone example, the transmitted electromagnetic radiation increases thetemperature of the one or more segments. The transmitted electromagneticradiation may also decrease the relative humidity of the one or moresegments.

The logic 70 may also coordinate the transmission of the electromagneticradiation with one or more additional space platforms. In an example,the space platform includes one or more solar panel arrays to collectsolar energy and the logic 70 includes a converter to convert the solarenergy to the transmitted electromagnetic radiation. In such a case, thetransmitted electromagnetic radiation includes microwave energy and/ormillimeter wave energy. Depending on the size and strength of thetropical depression, it may not be necessary to apply all of theavailable energy in every case. A command and control center with aman-in-the-loop (operated by the government or by a commerciallylicensed entity) would be authorized to make final decisions as to whento start and stop the energizing of a tropical depression (most if notall of the activity would be over international waters).

The cost of launches has begun to significantly decrease in the last fewyears (and is projected to continue to significantly decrease, in somecases by orders of magnitude) due to the advent of commercial launchvehicle industry (including reusable launch vehicles), making theprojected launch cost much more affordable and feasible than it was justa few years ago. All prior studies on space solar power systems,including by various US government entities as recently as April 2015,have concluded that projected launch costs at did not lead to a viablebusiness or government model in providing commercial power. Theaccelerating reduction in launch costs is likely to significantly alterthese conclusions and result in viable business models. Moreover, thesolution described herein is a different sort of trade-off, includingpolitical considerations, with hurricane damage, destruction, suffering,and deaths traded off against cost.

The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type ofrelationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question,and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical,electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition,the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein only to facilitatediscussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronologicalsignificance unless otherwise indicated.

As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined bythe term “one or more of” may mean any combination of the listed terms.For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B or C” may mean A; B; C; Aand B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing descriptionthat the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in avariety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been describedin connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of theembodiments should not be so limited since other modifications willbecome apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of thedrawings, specification, and following claims.

We claim:
 1. A space platform comprising: logic to locate one or moremasses of a thunderstorm system, as the thunderstorm system starts toorganize and before the thunderstorm system spawns a tornado; and atransmitter to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the spaceplatform to the one or more masses, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation is to track the one or more masses as thethunderstorm system is starting to organize and rotate, and wherein thetransmitted electromagnetic radiation is to prevent the thunderstormsystem from rotating and spawning the tornado.
 2. The space platform ofclaim 1, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation is toincrease a temperature of the one or more masses.
 3. The space platformof claim 1, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation is todecrease a relative humidity of the one or more masses.
 4. The spaceplatform of claim 1, wherein the logic is to coordinate transmission ofthe electromagnetic radiation with one or more additional spaceplatforms.
 5. The space platform of claim 1, further including: one ormore solar panel arrays to collect solar energy; and a converter toconvert the collected solar energy to the transmitted electromagneticradiation, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation includesmillimeter wave energy.
 6. The space platform of claim 1, wherein thethunderstorm system is to be located over land.
 7. A semiconductorapparatus comprising: one or more substrates; and logic coupled to theone or more substrates, wherein the logic is implemented at least partlyin one or more of configurable logic or fixed-functionality hardwarelogic, the logic coupled to the one or more substrates is to: locate oneor more masses of a thunderstorm system, as the thunderstorm systemstarts to organize and before the thunderstorm system spawns a tornado,and control a transmission of electromagnetic radiation from a spaceplatform to the one or more masses, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation is to track the one or more masses as thethunderstorm system is starting to organize and rotate, and wherein thetransmitted electromagnetic radiation is to prevent the thunderstormsystem from rotating and spawning the tornado.
 8. The semiconductorapparatus of claim 7, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiationis to increase a temperature of the one or more masses.
 9. Thesemiconductor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic energy is to decrease a relative humidity of the one ormore masses.
 10. The semiconductor apparatus of claim 7, wherein thelogic coupled to the one or more substrates is to coordinatetransmission of the electromagnetic radiation with one or moreadditional space platforms.
 11. At least one computer readable storagemedium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by a spaceplatform, cause the space platform to: locate one or more masses of athunderstorm system, as the thunderstorm system starts to organize andbefore the thunderstorm system spawns a tornado; and control atransmission of electromagnetic radiation from the space platform to theone or more masses, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation isto track the one or more one or more masses as the thunderstorm systemis starting to organize and rotate, and wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation is to prevent the thunderstorm system fromrotating and spawning the tornado.
 12. The at least one computerreadable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation is to increase a temperature of the one ormore masses.
 13. The at least one computer readable storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic energy is to decreasea relative humidity of the one or more masses.
 14. The at least onecomputer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions,when executed, cause the space platform to coordinate transmission ofthe electromagnetic radiation with one or more additional spaceplatforms.
 15. A method comprising: locating one or more masses of athunderstorm system, as the thunderstorm system starts to organize andbefore the thunderstorm system spawns a tornado; and controlling atransmission of electromagnetic radiation from the space platform to theone or more masses, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiationtracks the one or more masses as the thunderstorm system is starting toorganize and rotate, and wherein the transmitted electromagneticradiation prevents the thunderstorm system from rotating and spawningthe tornado.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation increases a temperature of the one or moremasses.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmittedelectromagnetic radiation decreases a relative humidity of the one ormore masses.
 18. The method of claim 15, further including coordinatingtransmission of the electromagnetic radiation with one or moreadditional space platforms.
 19. The method of claim 15, furtherincluding: collecting solar energy; and converting the collected solarenergy to the transmitted electromagnetic radiation.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic radiation includesmillimeter wave energy.